Croydon South (electoral division)

Croydon South
Former electoral division for the Greater London Council
Croydon South electoral division boundaries
District	Croydon
Electorate	60,035 (1973) 61,329 (1977) 62,667 (1981)
Area	3,745 hectares (37.45 km2)
Former electoral division
Created	1973
Abolished	1986
Member(s)	1
Created from	Croydon

Croydon South was an electoral division for the purposes of elections to the Greater London Council. The constituency elected one councillor for a four-year term in 1973, 1977 and 1981, with the final term extended for an extra year ahead of the abolition of the Greater London Council.

History

It was planned to use the same boundaries as the Westminster Parliament constituencies for election of councillors to the Greater London Council (GLC), as had been the practice for elections to the predecessor London County Council, but those that existed in 1965 crossed the Greater London boundary. Until new constituencies could be settled, the 32 London boroughs were used as electoral areas. The London Borough of Croydon formed the Croydon electoral division. This was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1964, 1967 and 1970.

The new constituencies were settled following the Second Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and the new electoral division matched the boundaries of the Croydon South parliamentary constituency. ^[1]

It covered an area of 3,745 hectares (37.45 km²).

Elections

The Croydon South constituency was used for the Greater London Council elections in 1973, ^[2] 1977 ^[3] and 1981. ^[4] One councillor was elected at each election using first-past-the-post voting. ^[5]

1973 election

The fourth election to the GLC (and first using revised boundaries) was held on 12 April 1973. The electorate was 60,035 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 40.3%. The councillor was elected for a three-year term. This was extended for an extra year in 1976 when the electoral cycle was switched to four-yearly. ^[6]

1973 Greater London Council election: Croydon South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Geoffrey Weston Aplin	14,885
	Liberal	Jean Pearson Coleman	6,186
	Labour	Mary E. Curson	2,880
	Ratepayers	S. B. Stray	234
Turnout
	Conservative win (new seat)

1977 election

The fifth election to the GLC (and second using revised boundaries) was held on 5 May 1977. The electorate was 61,329 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 45.7%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term.

1977 Greater London Council election: Croydon South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Geoffrey Weston Aplin	21,146
	Liberal	Margaret R. A. Billenness	3,373
	Labour	C. E. Payne	2,654
	National Front	Roland Dummer	590
	National Party	P. W. R. G. Benwell	235

1981 election

The sixth and final election to the GLC (and third using revised boundaries) was held on 7 May 1981. The electorate was 62,667 and one Conservative Party councillor was elected. The turnout was 42.3%. The councillor was elected for a four-year term, extended by an extra year by the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, ahead of the abolition of the council.

1981 Greater London Council election: Croydon South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Stuart Gill	17,340
	Liberal	Donald G. Pratt	5,709
	Labour	Michael P. J. Phelan	3,485

References

1. "The Greater London (Electoral Areas) Order 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 20 June 1972. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
2. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 12 April 1973. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
3. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 5 May 1977. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
4. "Greater London Council Election" (PDF). 7 May 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
5. Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Croydon". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
6. "The London Councillors Order 1976" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 17 February 1976. Retrieved 1 September 2023.